Kessler 10 (K10) Psychological Distress Scale
Workplace Mental Health Screening with LifeCare
Mental wellbeing is becoming one of the most important health and safety considerations for New Zealand organisations.
Research from WorkSafe New Zealand highlights that psychosocial risks, including workload pressure, job demands, lack of support, and workplace stress, can significantly affect workers’ mental health and overall wellbeing.
Poor mental wellbeing at work is associated with:
- Increased absenteeism and sick leave
- Lower productivity and engagement
- Higher staff turnover
- Increased workplace incidents and safety risks
- Greater strain on leaders and managers
For employers and PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking), this highlights the importance of identifying psychosocial risks early and ensuring appropriate support systems are in place.
Tools such as the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) can provide a structured way to gain insight into employee wellbeing and support early intervention.
What is the Kessler 10 (K10) assessment?
The Kessler 10 (K10) is a validated psychological screening tool used to measure non-specific psychological distress, particularly symptoms linked to anxiety and depression.
It consists of 10 short questions asking how often a person has experienced certain emotional states in the past four weeks.
Because it is quick, reliable, and evidence-based, the K10 is often used as an early screening tool to identify individuals who may benefit from further mental health support.
At LifeCare, the Kessler 10 assessment can be included as an optional add-on to workplace health monitoring programmes.
How the K10 questionnaire works
The questionnaire typically takes around five minutes to complete, making it suitable for workplace health checks and occupational health monitoring.
Participants indicate how often they have felt certain emotions such as:
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Hopelessness
- Sadness
- Difficulty relaxing
While the K10 provides useful insight, results should always be interpreted with appropriate clinical context. LifeCare’s trained occupational health technicians review the results and guide appropriate next steps where necessary.
Who may benefit from a K10 psychological distress assessment
The Kessler 10 assessment can benefit individuals and organisations seeking a clearer understanding of mental wellbeing.
It may be particularly helpful for:
- Organisations running workplace wellbeing initiatives and as part of regular workplace wellness assessments
- Businesses who recognise psychosocial issues on their risk register
- Businesses including mental health screening in occupational health programmes
- Employees experiencing ongoing stress or fatigue
- Workers in high-pressure or safety-critical environments
- Employees returning from extended leave
- Individuals in roles with high emotional or psychological demands
Early screening allows organisations to support employees before mental health concerns develop into more serious issues.
Statistics
1 in 5
Adults experiencing mental distress
One in five New Zealand adults experiences mental distress each year. This widespread impact means workplaces across every industry are likely to have team members navigating mental health challenges right now — making early support more important than ever.
$12B
Annual cost to the New Zealand economy
Mental health conditions are estimated to cost the New Zealand economy around $12 billion every year — through lost productivity, increased healthcare costs, and reduced workforce participation. Investing in mental health support isn’t just the right thing to do; it makes sound business sense.
Top 5
Leading cause of workplace absenteeism
Stress, anxiety, and depression are among the leading drivers of absenteeism and reduced productivity in workplaces across New Zealand and the wider developed world. Equipping your team with the tools to recognise and respond to these challenges is a critical step toward a healthier, more resilient workplace.
Integrating mental wellbeing into workplace health monitoring
How the K10 questionnaire works
Forward-thinking organisations are increasingly integrating mental wellbeing assessments into regular occupational health checks.
This approach recognises that employee health is interconnected. Physical, psychological, and social wellbeing all influence performance, safety, and resilience at work.
Adding the Kessler 10 assessment to a workplace health monitoring programme can help organisations:
- Gain insight into employee wellbeing trends
- Encourage open conversations about mental health
- Identify individuals who may benefit from support
- Strengthen overall workplace wellbeing strategies
Importantly, the goal of the K10 is not to diagnose individuals, but to ensure organisations have the right awareness and support systems in place.
What happens after the K10 assessment?
After completing the Kessler 10 questionnaire with LifeCare, participants typically receive a summary of their results, including:
- Their overall K10 score
- Psychological distress category
- General interpretation guidance
If the score indicates moderate or high distress, further steps may include:
- Referral to the GP, mental health professionals or the crisis line if deemed necessary
- If the employer offers a counselling or support programme, this should be provided as a next step, ensuring timely access to appropriate support.
- Follow-up wellbeing discussions
- All high-risk results will be triaged by our clinical team and assessed as to whether they may be a safety risk. Only those who are deemed a safety risk will be shared with the employer to maintain privacy.
The aim is to ensure individuals receive appropriate support and guidance where needed.
A report with aggregate overviews will be available to view by the authorised individuals, on LifeCare’s report platform within 48 hours. The report will show:
- Total number of participants
- Overall psychological distress distribution
Percentage of employees in different distress categories:
- Low distress
- Moderate distress
- High distress
- Very high distress
Frequently asked questions about the Kessler 10
Is the K10 a mental health diagnosis?
No. The K10 is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test.
It measures levels of psychological distress over the past 4 weeks but does not diagnose specific mental illnesses.How long does the K10 assessment take?
The questionnaire usually takes around five minutes to complete.
Is the Kessler 10 used in New Zealand?
Yes. The K10 is widely used in New Zealand population health surveys, clinical practice, and workplace wellbeing programmes.
How can my workplace book a K10 assessment?
The Kessler 10 assessment is available as an optional add-on to LifeCare’s health monitoring programmes.
To organise this for your workplace, simply contact your LifeCare Account Manager, email us at info@lifecare.co.nz or contact us here.
What should organisations consider when implementing the K10?
Best practice includes:
- Voluntary participation
Employees should choose whether they participate.
- Strict confidentiality
All responses must be handled with care and privacy.
- Informed consent
Employees should clearly understand the purpose of the assessment.
- Meaningful follow-up
Organisations should ensure access to appropriate mental health support if required.
- Voluntary participation
Get in touch with LifeCare today to discuss how K10 assessment can strengthen your health monitoring programme and protect both your people and your business.
